The Foundations of Science: Oceans (Textbook)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”

—Job 38:4

The Foundations of Science introduces children to the wonders of the natural world in light of God’s providential care over creation.

Too often we hear messages that science is in conflict with faith, but Pope St. John Paul II wrote that faith and science “each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.” Foundations seeks to spawn this flourishing in the hearts and minds of young readers, guiding them into a world that will delight their imaginations and inspire awe in the awesome power of God.

This eight-part series covers an extensive scope of scientific studies, from animals and plants, to the galaxies of outer space and the depths of the ocean, to cells and organisms, to the curiosities of chemistry and the marvels of our planet. Still more, it reveals the intricate order found beneath the surface of creation and chronicles many of the Church’s contributions to science throughout history.

Oceans: Mysteries of the Deep plunges children below the giant, blue seas of our planet, introducing them to a mysterious world that we know less about than the surface of the moon. This exploration of our oceans will reveal the incredible diversity found in coral reefs and the countless species of fish and other aquatic life, as well as examine the zones and currents of the seas and all the ways we depend on the oceans in our daily lives. 

Did you know . . .

• The oceans' tides are caused in part by the gravitational forces exerted on it by the moon?
• The majority of all life on earth is aquatic?
• The world's largest mountain chain is under water?
• The Dead Sea gets its name because it is five times saltier than the ocean, making it very difficult for aquatic life to live there?
• Some leatherback sea turtles have been known to migrate ten thousand miles between egg-laying sites and feeding grounds? 
• Kelp, a kind of brown algae, can grow over two hundred feet long? 
• Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere flow in a clockwise direction, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they flow counterclockwise? 

In addition, children will also read about miracles from the Bible that took place at sea, learn about the power of the Sacrament of Baptism, come to know why Our Lady is called Stella Maris, and be introduced to the saintly fishermen who were the closest followers of Christ.  

Take a journey back to when God laid the foundation of the world with this groundbreaking science curriculum!